Britain to become first G7 country to end coal power as last plant closes

Britain to become first G7 country to end coal power as last plant closes
A drone view of Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station in Ratcliffe-on-Soar, Nottinghamshire, Britain on Sept 26.
PHOTO: Reuters

LONDON — Britain will become the first G7 country to end coal-fired power production on Monday (Sept 30) with the closure of its last plant, Uniper's Ratcliffe-on-Soar in England's Midlands.

It will end over 140 years of coal power in Britain.

In 2015, Britain announced plans to close coal plants within the next decade as part of wider measures to reach its climate targets. At that time almost 30 per cent of the country's electricity came from coal but this had fallen to just over one per cent last year.

"The UK has proven that it is possible to phase out coal power at unprecedented speed," said Julia Skorupska, Head of the Powering Past Coal Alliance secretariat, a group of around 60 national governments seeking to end coal power.

The drop in coal power has helped cut Britain's greenhouse gas emissions, which have more than halved since 1990.

Britain, which has a target to reach net zero emissions by 2050, also plans to decarbonise the electricity sector by 2030, a move which will require a rapid ramp-up in renewable power such as wind and solar.

"The era of coal might be ending, but a new age of good energy jobs for our country is just beginning," energy minister Michael Shanks said in an emailed statement.

Emissions from energy make up around three quarters of total greenhouse gas emissions and scientists have said that the use of fossil fuels must be curbed to meet goals set under the Paris climate agreement.

In April the G7 major industrialised countries agreed to scrap coal power in the first half of the next decade, but also gave some leeway to economies who are heavily coal-reliant, drawing criticism from green groups.

"There is a lot of work to do to ensure that both the 2035 target is met and brought forward to 2030, particularly in Japan, the US, and Germany," said Christine Shearer, Research Analyst, Global Energy Monitor.

Coal power still makes up more than 25 per cent of Germany's electricity and more than 30 per cent of Japan's power.

ALSO READ: Worst drought on record lowers Amazon rivers to all-time lows

Source: Reuters

homepage

trending

trending
    Operator of F&B chain Ayam Penyet President fined $1,000 after SFA finds food safety lapses at Hillion Mall outlet
    Cyclist sent to hospital after accident with police vehicle along Keppel Road
    From cash and gold to leaves: 3 women, 1 man charged over suspected involvement in spiritual 'blessing' scams
    Hazelle Teo announces engagement to pianist James Wong
    'You worried about us too much': Tay Ying has heart-to-heart talk with mum Hong Huifang before marriage
    Pamper yourself on your next shopping trip with these exclusive deals
    Half-Singaporean Katseye member Megan comes out as bisexual during livestream
    Malaysian govt-owned land in Marsiling? Residents express surprise at land acquisition for Woodlands Checkpoint extension
    Singapore-registered supercars' owners fined for parking illegally in Thailand
    Ayden Sng sells his 'go-to' drink Milo Dinosaur in China cafe for reality show Smile at You
    E-Junkies: Katy Kung agreed to do tough labour in TVB reality show because 'might as well choose the most challenging one'
    Gossip mill: Liu Wai Hung to open entertainment complex in Malaysia, officials indicted in late Lee Sun-kyun case, Hong Kong actor with cancer performs to pay bills

Singapore

Singapore
    • Barge grounded off Tanjong Beach; no reports of damage, injuries
    • $52k bid to rent Tampines clinic 'highest' psf received for GP, dental clinics of this size: HDB
    • Singaporean Harvard undergrads can take up places in local unis if they choose to return 
    • 'Moments like this that really make your day': Chan Chun Sing meets soldier who took photo with him as student
    • Man taken to hospital after fight with stepfather in Yishun, furniture damaged in brawl
    • Wrong food delivery: Man 'feels unsafe', calls police
    • Government official impersonation scam: Syndicate received gold bars worth $500k, cash from victims
    • Queues at VEP application centres in Singapore, JB after news of enforcement from July 1
    • Ex-IPP director Goh Jin Hian wins appeal, court says firm failed to prove his breach caused losses 
    • GrabCab to launch in July, fares in line with market rate

Entertainment

Entertainment
    • Vic Chou responds to rumours of F4's 25th anniversary reunion
    • Kym Ng, Carrie Wong, Tay Ying and more to perform for Singapore Heart Foundation 55th Anniversary Charity Show
    • 'I was totally fooled': Behind-the-scenes footage of Lee Jun-hyuk's ad tickles netizens
    • 'Please say hello from afar': Jay Chou hounded by fans in Kyoto, his makeup artist falls and fractures leg
    • Rita Ora celebrates her 'sexuality' in new single Heat
    • Pedro Pascal finds it scary joining the MCU
    • Sean 'Diddy' Combs warned to stop 'nodding' in the direction of jury during his sex trafficking trial
    • Dakota Johnson admits sending gorilla poop to a friend's ex
    • Mariah Carey drops first solo music in 6 years
    • Harry Potter star Tom Felton to return to role as Draco Malfoy

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
    • Unable to bear children, she proposed annulment of marriage so he could start a family. He chose love
    • The taller, the better? Tinder's new height filter trial is dividing opinion
    • Taiwan's popular noodle chain Xiao Hun Mian opens first Singapore outlet at Raffles City
    • New French restaurant concept by Zouk Group to open in Bugis
    • Land Rover Defender lineup gets facelift
    • Top picks for Father's Day 2025 in Singapore: Best restaurants, experiences and gifts
    • Kia Carnival Hybrid review: Hybrid power and modern updates for a spacious family MPV
    • Touring Onan Road, a freehold landed estate with 'hidden' enclave of shophouses
    • From 'playgrounds' to 'playscapes': Punggol sees new play areas with giant pencils, kinetic bugs and a 'crocodile'
    • A taste of home: Burmese friends open cafe in Bras Basah selling authentic Myanmar cuisine

Digicult

Digicult
    • Slim, sleek, but slightly too short-lived: Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge review
    • World's best Dota 2 teams to compete for $1m prize pool in Singapore in November
    • A $500 wake-up call: How the Samsung Galaxy Ring made me realise my stress
    • Monster Hunter Wilds producer explains how game has remained unique and fresh over 20 years
    • Initiative by IMDA, AI Verify Foundation tests AI accuracy, trustworthiness in real-world scenarios
    • Under siege? Helldivers 2's latest city to be invaded by aliens could be spoof of Singapore
    • Honor 400 Series launches in Singapore with first free in-device AI image-to-video tool
    • Home Team humanoid robots to be deployed by mid-2027, $100m to be invested: Josephine Teo
    • Ado concert review: Singer without a face ignites fans while in cage with only silhouette visible
    • EU and US authorities take down malware network

Money

Money
    • Wall Street equity indexes close higher after US-China tariff truce
    • Giant deal: Malaysian company to acquire Cold Storage and Giant supermarket chains in Singapore
    • Best fixed deposit rates in Singapore (June 2025): Minimum deposits from $500, rates up to 2.45%
    • SG60 Baby Gift: What to expect if you're expecting
    • The surprising reasons some Singaporean buyers are choosing smaller condo units (even when they can afford more)
    • 'Thank you for your hard work': Scoot gives 4.91 months of bonus, shares on TikTok
    • US House plans quick action on Trump cuts to foreign aid spending
    • 4-room HDBs without million-dollar sales - where to still find value today
    • $1.16m for a 4-room HDB flat in Clementi? Why this integrated development commands premium prices
    • Why these buyers chose older leasehold condos — and have no regrets

Latest

Latest
  • Iran says US travel ban shows 'deep hostility' for Iranians, Muslims
  • Dismay and disbelief as Trump bans visitors from a dozen countries
  • Bangladesh to hold election in first half of April 2026, interim PM says
  • Overcrowding forces halt to Gaza aid distribution, Eid holiday marked by violence
  • China says it is working with France on trade differences, no sign yet of a cognac deal
  • South Korea's Lee Jae-myung, Trump agree to work towards swift tariff deal, Lee's office says
  • Catholicism shrinks in Brazil as evangelical faith surges
  • 6 killed, 80 wounded in intense Russian air attacks on Ukraine
  • Trump says he has no plans to speak to Musk as feud persists

In Case You Missed It

In Case You Missed It
  • Boy, 4, caught smoking under a Bangkok bridge sent to government-run shelter
  • Malaysian woman apologises to 11-year-old daughter for 'only' spending $300k on her birthday
  • Over 170 travellers nabbed for evading GST, smuggling large sums of cash in island-wide operation
  • Woman crawls out of storm drain in shocking Manila street scene
  • DBS staff, police stop 2 victims from losing $820k to government official impersonation scams
  • 'Be humble in victory': PM Wong sends traditional 'Rules of Prudence' letter to PAP MPs after GE
  • Pedestrian, 84, dies in accident involving minibus in Choa Chu Kang
  • NDP 2025 marks SG60 with expanded celebrations from Padang to Marina Bay
  • Obesity rates are rising in Singapore, but is overeating the only cause?
This website is best viewed using the latest versions of web browsers.